Technology-Savvy Indian President Abdul Kalam

Image - Rashtrapati Bhavan, Residence of The President of India.

At a time when there seems to be great disenchantment towards their leaders among the citizens of countries worldwide, it was indeed refreshing to learn of a leader, albeit a figurehead, who must make his citizens feel very proud. The Bernama article on him follows.

Rarely a nation's president tells the audience or the media not to take down notes while giving a speech. But this is exactly what the Indian president did.

"The speech will be on my website later, don't worry. Type http://presidentofindia.nic.in/for my speech. Next 15 minutes we can just discuss."

Dr A.P.J Abdul Kalam's (actual name Dr Avul Pakir Jainuladbeen Abdul Kalam) speech appeared on his personal website just minutes after he addressed the audience at the inaugural Asia-Pacific Ministers Conference on Housing and Human Settlements in the Indian capital last week.

"He is very particular about his website and within 10 minutes, his speech will be on the web," the president's press secretary S.M. Khan (wants to be known as S.M Khan) told Bernama.

The missile scientist-turned-president receives about 300 e-mails daily from people from all walks of life and he tries to answer them personally, especially if they involve scientific research, academia or political issues.

Being a renowned scientist, Kalam's intellect is often challenged by all segments of Indian society since he makes himself more accessible to the public, often breaking away from strict protocol and security measures surrounding a president.

"He receives anything under the sun, from students, scientists to social activists and sixty per cent of the e-mails are from students because he is fond of children and always inspires them," said Khan.

The easy-going benevolent president has a profound charisma, built over the years as a devoted scientist and now as president of a nation with more than a billion people, which makes it hard for his admirers to resist him.

In schools, students queue to hear his inspiring speeches, while academicians wait to hear Kalam share his insights from space technology to sustainable rural development, both the president's favourite subjects.

The president's website receives about 250,000 hits a day, making it one of the most sought after Internet sites in the country.

The 75-year-old bachelor-president who hails from a temple town of Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu, South India, was inaugurated in July 2002 as India's 11th president.

He lives a spartan life despite all the publicity and praises heaped upon him, eating and adopting a simplistic lifestyle even in his luxurious mansion.

"He is a simple man, he just lives on a vegetarian diet. Mostly he likes curd, milk, rice, pickles and pappads and he only uses two rooms in the family wing of the president's house," Khan said.

The sprawling Rashtrapati Bhavan, built in the early 1900's, has 340 rooms and is located in the Indian capital close to parliament. When he was appointed president, Kalam even refused to move into the huge mansion.

In the official residence, the president lives a quiet life and no family members or relatives reside with him. Only six months ago for the first time after becoming president, he invited all his family members and relatives, altogether 54, to stay with him for five days. "The bill came to about three lakhs (RM30,000) and he foot the bill himself. It was like a family reunion," recalled Khan.

Daily, Kalam devotes about 12 to 14 hours to his presidential work and his main focus is to see India transform into an industrialised nation, according to Khan who has been his press secretary for the past four years.

"His one vision now is to see India developed by (the year) 2020," he added.

Kalam, also a skillful technocrat, was involved in formulating India's Technology Vision when he worked as a scientist then and was instrumental in developing India's missile programme.

He further shot to fame when India conducted its nuclear test in 1998 that proved the country's scientific and technological prowess, and eventually paved the way for the nation to join the world's exclusive nuclear club.

Besides his talent for scientific research, Kalam enjoys literary works and has published four books and numerous poems. (By P. Vijian)

Image - neilmadhvani